Preparation of cinnamyl-substituted phenols

Abstract

A process for preparing ortho-substituted cinnamyl phenols is disclosed. The process comprises heating a mixture of cinnamyl alcohol and phenol in the presence of an effective amount of activated alumina.

We claim: 
     
       1. A process for preparing orthosubstituted cinnamyl phenols wherein the process comprises heating an admixture of phenol and cinnamyl alcohol in the liquid phase and at a temperature in the range of about 125° to about 250° C. in the presence of an effective amount of activated alumina, which is α alumina monohydrate, catalyst. 
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein the phenol and cinnamyl alcohol are present in the range of about 0.1 to about 5 parts by weight of phenol to alcohol. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 2 wherein the amount of activated alumina catalyst is in the range of about 1 to about 100 parts by weight of the combined amount of phenol and cinnamyl alcohol. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 3 wherein the reaction time is in the range of about 0.1 to about 15 hours. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 4 wherein the temperature is in the range of about 150° to about 180° C. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 5 wherein the phenol and cinnamyl alcohol are present in the range of about 1 to about 3 parts by weight of phenol to alcohol. 
     
     
       7. The process of claim 6 wherein the amount of activated alumina catalyst is in the range of about 5 to about 35 parts by weight of the combined amount of phenol and cinnamyl alcohol. 
     
     
       8. The process of claim 7 wherein the activated alumina has the following additional properties: surface area, meters/gram:230 - 300   Al 2  O 3 , weight percent:70 - 75   loose bulk density, grams/liter:650 - 720.